where on the golf course can you use a wood

by Kari Kassulke 8 min read

You can use a fairway wood from the fairway or a good lie in the rough. Some golfers will use a fairway wood off the tee if they struggle with a driver. When reaching for a fairway wood, here is the average distance you can expect to achieve: 3-wood = 125 to 240 yards.

Full Answer

What Woods should be in your golf bag?

Fairway woods are essential to have in your golf bag. The biggest role they play is going to be getting your ball back on track after a poor drive or if you want to go for a golf green in two. The 5 wood and the 7 wood will play an important part in keeping your long game strong.

What is a 3 wood used for in golf?

A 3- wood can be a golfer's best friend from the tee, like on a narrow par 4. It can also be a weapon on the fairway, giving you more distance than a hybrid or iron and setting up a short approach to a par 5.

Do I need a 5 wood or 7 Wood golf club?

With the limited number of golf clubs that we get to keep in our bag, you will sometimes have to choose between carrying a 5 wood and 7 wood. If you are in a situation where this is the case, we have some really helpful information to help you sort this out.

Should you use a three wood or shorter club on flat ground?

However, simply being in the fairway does not guarantee that you will be on flat ground. If the turf is sloped significantly below your feet, it will probably be best to put the three wood away and opt for a shorter club.

Can you use a wood on the fairway?

You can use a fairway wood from the fairway or a good lie in the rough. Some golfers will use a fairway wood off the tee if they struggle with a driver. When reaching for a fairway wood, here is the average distance you can expect to achieve: 3-wood = 125 to 240 yards.

Can you use a fairway wood in the rough?

0:171:58Having Trouble Hitting a 3 Wood Out of Rough? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWell my answer quite simply would be don't try to hit the 3-wood out of deep rough. It. Doesn't haveMoreWell my answer quite simply would be don't try to hit the 3-wood out of deep rough. It. Doesn't have a lot of loft as it is and when you're hitting in rough the long grass grabs your clubface.

Which part of the course can you use a tee in golf?

The forward tees are usually designed for beginner golfers or juniors. These tees might be in the middle of the fairway, but it is still the location where you hit your tee shot. Mostly if you are hitting your tee shot, you can use a tee. If you are hitting your second or third shot, a tee is illegal.

Can you use woods off the tee?

While many manufacturers are promoting drivers with more loft on them, players that choose a 3-wood off the tee often drive it better than they normally will with a driver. The first factor is the launch. the 3-wood promotes a very good launch angle for most golfers.

When should I use 3 wood or 5 wood?

The majority of golfers will use a 5 wood from the fairway when they're able to reach the green. The shorter shaft length and higher loft makes a 5 wood much easier to hit off the ground compared to a 3 wood. Before hybrids came out, most golfers had both a 3 and 5 wood.

Do you swing a 3 wood like a driver?

Don't hit it like a driver. Drivers are specifically designed to hit the ball on the ascending side of the swing arc. A 3 wood is not. Take your practice swing and see where the club bottoms out.

Can you use a broken tee in golf?

Using Borrowed, Abandoned or Broken Tee Yes. The Rules only require that you use a conforming tee. It doesn't matter where you get the tee from as long as it is conforming (see Definition of Tee).

Can you tee off in front of tee markers?

Golfers know they can't tee up their ball on a hole ahead of the tee markers from the tees they're playing. That's against the rules and comes with a severe penalty of two strokes and then needing to play a ball from what' s officially dubbed the teeing ground.

Can you move tee markers in golf?

Because moving tee-markers can have a significant effect on the competition, they should not be moved and, if they are moved, they should be replaced. However, if a player moves a tee-marker because he or she thinks it should be in a different position, or deliberately destroys the tee-marker, the Committee.

Why do I pop up my 3 wood?

The biggest problem that you pop up drivers or fairway woods is because you're too steep. The key is to change the bottom point of your arc and create a shallow path. This will allow you to hit up on the golf ball and not hit the ball high on the face (aka the crown).

Where should a 3 wood be in your stance?

The ideal 3 wood ball position is to have it directly below the logo of your shirt. This ball should be in the front-center of your stance, approximately one to two inches behind where you place your driver.

Can you hit a fairway wood off the tee?

0:427:38How To Tee Off With A 3 Wood | Easily - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you want it to get pretty good distance nobody wants to give up 60 70 yards off the tee byMoreAnd you want it to get pretty good distance nobody wants to give up 60 70 yards off the tee by hitting the 3 wood you want to go pretty far you've got to hit it on the top half of the face.

What is a 5 wood?

High-handicap players generally use a 5-wood to hit second shots from the fairway on par 5s and to reach long par 3s. Low-handicap players normally use a 5-wood to reach long par 5s in two shots. No matter your handicap, being able to consistently hit a 5-wood will improve your game.

How to swing a golf ball?

Step 1. Address the golf ball with it sitting just to the left of center in your stance (for a right-handed golfer). Employ a stance slightly wider than normal to help ensure a swing with a sweeping motion.

How to transfer weight when hitting a golf ball?

Ensure your shoulders are square at impact with the golf ball. Your weight should transfer from the back foot to the front foot during impact.

How to swing a fairway wood?

Step 1. Take a few practice swings. Practice sweeping the club head along the grass as you draw back and then sweep back through the impact zone. With a fairway wood, you want a fairly shallow swing as opposed to the steep angle of an iron where you are making impact coming down.

How to get more power behind wood?

Spread your stance a little wider than you would with an iron. A wider stance will give you a more stable base and a better opportunity to deliver impact and put additional power behind the wood.

How far to address a ball in a tennis game?

Step up to address the ball. You want the ball 2 or 3 inches to the inside of your lead foot.

Can you cover more ground with a fairway wood?

By Patrick Cameron. You can cover a lot more ground with a fairway wood on those long par 4's and 5's. Fairway woods and hybrid clubs can give you extra distance you wouldn't be able to get from a long iron.

Situation 1: Off the Tee on Certain Holes

If you arrive at a hole and there is a water hazard or a sand bunker that you need to avoid at a certain distance and you don’t have the swing speed to be able to hit it over the hazard.

Situation 2: On Approach Shots Out of the Fairway

As a senior or junior golfer you might find yourself with 175 yards or more yards left on plenty of par 4s. If you have slower swing speed at this stage in your golf journey, having a trusty 3 wood that you can hit high enough and far enough to get to the green, then the 3 wood becomes a rather very important club in the bag.

Situation 3: Out of the Rough on Approach Shots

3 woods have come a long way in helping golfers be able to launch the ball out of the fairway and to help get through some thicker rough when faced with the situation.

Situation 4: 2nd Shot on a Par 5

Let’s face it, golf has become a game of distance! The further you can hit the ball, the better chance you have of hitting approach shots from a shorter distance, which results in shots closer to the hole. The end result is more putts made and lower scores. This all starts with the distance of the tee.

Situation 5: Potential Club To Use For a Punch Shot

I have seen plenty of golfers utilize their 3 wood for punch shots. We all end up in the trees or in some sort of trouble off the tee and need to advance the ball far enough down the fairway to leave a short chip shot and the opportunity to save par.

How To Measure Your Game and Swing

All five of these situations are important shots to be able to hit with your 3 wood. You have to be a complete player and maximize each of 14 clubs in your bag. If you are hesitant to hit a 3 wood at the times when the course strategy calls for it, you are giving up potential shots.

How To Gain More Distance With Your 3 Wood

I would highly recommend overspeed training. Over the past year I have spent time working with SuperSpeed Training system. Their club system where the golfer follows protocols is a game changer. There are different speed training systems on the market.

Which wood goes further, 7 or 5?

Since the loft is a bit lower and the club’s physical length is longer, the 5 wood is going to go further than the 7 wood.

What wood is better for par 4s?

If you struggle with distance on longer par fours, the 5 wood is going to be a great choice. It is easier to hit than a 3 wood and makes getting the proper ball flight a breeze. A 7 wood has a bit more loft and therefore can get out of the rough more effectively. A 7 wood is a perfect replacement for a long iron or a good choice for a golfer ...

What is the difference between a 5 wood and a 7 wood?

There are players who will benefit from the 5 wood and others that will find the 7 wood to be a better fit for their game. The main differences between the 5 and the 7 wood are in the length and the loft of the club. The 5 wood is a longer club that will hitter lower, longer shots and the 7 wood is shorter and will hit higher, shorter shots.

Why is 7 wood easier to hit than 5 wood?

One of the reasons that the 7 wood is usually a bit easier to hit than the 5 wood is that it is about a ½ inch shorter. Slightly shorter clubs are usually easier to control and make it easier to send the ball in the proper direction.

Why are fairway woods important?

Why Fairway Woods Are So Important. Fairway woods are essential to have in your golf bag. The biggest role they play is going to be getting your ball back on track after a poor drive or if you want to go for a golf green in two. The 5 wood and the 7 wood will play an important part in keeping your long game strong.

What is a 7 wood?

A 7 wood is a perfect replacement for a long iron or a good choice for a golfer that does not enjoy playing with a hybrid golf club. Overall both the 5 wood and the 7 wood are also alternatives to the driver or 3 wood off the tee.

Which is easier to hit, 7 wood or 5 wood?

The 7 wood is a bit easier to hit than the 5 wood. Luckily, both golf clubs still have lots of forgiveness, and you won’t need to choose based on forgiveness alone.

What is a three wood golf club?

Do's and Don'ts for Hitting Three Wood from the Fairway. The three wood is a club which is often overlooked in the set of the average golfer. The driver gets a lot of attention, of course, as do the hybrid clubs which have become so popular in recent years. However, you would be wise to pay attention to everything your three wood can offer, ...

How often should you use 3 woods in golf?

For most players, this is a play that will be used once per round, at the most.

How far back should you move the ball when hitting a golf 3 wood?

For example, you would only need to move the ball back an inch or two when hitting a golf 3 wood, but the proper ball position for a golf 11 wood should be close to the middle of your stance.

How to hit a long shot in golf?

Keep your left foot flat on the ground. When hitting long shots, some golfers fall into the habit of lifting up onto the toes of their left foot during the downswing. This is a move which can feel like it is providing you with some extra power, however it makes it harder to achieve solid contact. You can get away with this from time to time on the tee with your driver, since you have margin for error with the ball teed up. That is not the case out in the fairway. You need to be extremely accurate with your strike in the fairway, so try your best to keep your left heel down on the ground as you swing. Keeping the heel down is going to make it easier to hit the ball solidly, and it is also going to help you build speed as you turn.

When hitting a fairway wood, do you hit up on the ball?

When hitting a fairway wood, even off the tee, you don't want to hit up on the ball like you might with the driver. Instead, your goal should be to 'sweep' the ball off the ground or the tee with your angle of attack being as parallel to the ground as possible.

What is the second longest golf club in the bag?

If the turf is sloped significantly below your feet, it will probably be best to put the three wood away and opt for a shorter club. The three wood is the second-longest club in your bag, meaning you are going to have to make a long swing in order to hit it properly.

How high does a 3 wood swing get?

Try to lift the ball into the air as this can cause thin or fat shots. The 3-wood's loft (usually 13-15°) is sufficient to get it off the deck with a normal swing.

How to hit a fairway wood?

With fairway woods, set up with the ball a few inches inside your front heel. Many golfers play it way up and try to sweep it. No good. You want to hit down on it, like an iron. With the ball in the right place, your shoulders will tilt back and your hands will hang below your left ear ( right, top ). You shouldn't have to stretch to reach the ball.

When to hit a 3 wood off the fairway?

The only time you should hit a 3-wood off the fairway is when you can reach the green. One of the biggest strategy mistakes I see from amateurs is grabbing the 3-wood whenever they're too far from the green to get there. It just doesn't make sense. The 3-wood is the hardest club to hit off the fairway, so using it to just advance the ball is crazy.

What is the most common swing fault with fairway woods?

The most common swing fault with fairway woods is getting stuck on the back foot and swinging up on the ball. That's why you see a lot of thin contact, even topped shots. Your first move down from the top should be shifting off your back foot ( right, bottom ).

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